Reconciling travel and respect for the environment is possible by modifying our habits a little, by adopting a few reflexes and by choosing destinations where respect for nature takes precedence. There are many ways to paint the decor of our holidays in green, in France or elsewhere. Here are 10 of many.

Discover Europe by train

No need to fly to change universes. Thanks to its amazing diversity, Europe offers a change of scenery within train distance. Another big advantage: stations are generally located in the heart of cities, which makes traveling easier. In addition, many high-speed lines crisscross the continent. Finally, the train is often more practical, faster, cheaper and obviously less polluting than the automobile. Ideal for traveling freely!

Carpool

No train serving your destination? What if you carpool? A shared car is one less car for road traffic, which reduces the carbon footprint linked to travel.

Letting yourself drive causes less stress and certainly less transportation costs. And, if the driver is friendly, carpooling adds friendliness to respect for the environment.

A kind of hitchhiking 2.0, carpooling is unearthed via web platforms putting drivers and passengers in contact. Because this practice works both ways: so you know what you have to do if you use your car on a next trip!

Get away from it all while staying in France

We can never say it enough: the French are fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, the main asset of which is diversity. And, from the Agriate desert to Cape Blanc-Nez, there is something to get away from it all by staying inside France.

As proof, we have identified 15 very French destinations in which we have the impression of being far from home, in India, in the Caribbean, in New York, in Canada, etc. in the folder Where to get away from it all in France?

Put on your hiking shoes

Walking is good for health and nature. From the paths of Compostela in Europe to the Torres del Paine in Chile, passing by the Breton customs trail or the tour of Mont-Blanc, the hike is gaining more and more followers. So much the better! In the country of the GR, we are even spoiled for choice, for example in the Vercors, the Mercantour, the Haut-Rhin or the calanques of Marseille.

Get on your bicycle

In the world of travel, the development of cycle tourism is the other major trend of the past 10 years: in France, with the opening of large emblematic cycle paths such as the Loire by bicycle , the Canal des deux mers by bicycle or the ViaRhôna but also beyond our borders to Denmark , the Netherlands or in Quebec . So many superb routes to do and whose ancestor is the Danube cycle track through Austria.

The Little Queen has more than one asset in her bag: freedom, accessibility, discovering a region at her own pace and inexpensively, conviviality. Ideal for holidays with family or friends.

Spend a farm holiday in France or elsewhere

An original idea to go green: spend your holidays on the farm! What change the daily life of exhausted city dwellers! Authenticity, cheaper holidays, rediscovery of the environment and good local products … This is what you can find with some farmers who have joined agro-tourism reception networks (Welcome to the farm, A bed in the meadow, Accueil Paysan ).

Different formulas are offered, from the simple guest room to active participation in the life of the farm. In the same vein, wwoofing allows you to work on farms across the globe in exchange for board and lodging.

Set off to discover its region, at the gates of cities

Often, it only takes a few kilometers to be surprised, have fun, satisfy your curiosity. What if we took the time to discover our own region? A good way to easily afford getaways or weekends, often at the gates of major cities.

For example, you can hike in the vicinity of Marseille , cross the ring road for trips in Seine-Saint-Denis or take a RER trip in Île-de-France , visit the humanist library of Sélestat not far from Strasbourg, admire the wonderful parish enclosures not far from Brest, the hilltop villages of the Côte d’Azur at the gates of Nice or explore the marshes of Loire-Atlantique for Nantes residents…

Indulge in slow tourism

On vacation, you have to know how to take your time to break away from the frenzy of everyday life. It is a privileged moment to meet, share good moments with your loved ones, but above all be available to others and open to meetings. In a word: rehabilitate slowness, an art of living which is becoming increasingly rare.

“Slow tourism”, which is inspired by “slow food”, meets this need. This “slow tourism” invites you to quietly discover a destination, appreciating the landscapes and the terroirs and using slower and less polluting means of transport. Let us forget to try to see everything by running from one place to another and to “make a profit” at any cost. The environment will thank us.

Are you thirsty for wide open spaces, postcard landscapes and fresh air? No need to spend tons of dollars to go to the American West. A few euros are enough to discover the wonders of nature in France, by walking through our 11 major national parks!

Their natural beauties make them prime destinations for getaways or holidays, on the Calanques, Mercantour, Cévennes or Vanoise side.

Have you thought of the car-free islands in Europe?

When we think of paradise, we often imagine an island with unspoiled nature, lush vegetation and devoid of any motor vehicle. Who has never dreamed of retiring to an island without traffic, in order to release stress, noise and CO2? For this, no need to go to the other end of the planet, or to ruin yourself. Island paradises are not utopian and are often on our doorstep.

In France, the island of Aix (Charente-Maritime), Bréhat (Côtes-d’Armor), Molène (Finistère), Port-Cros (Var) or Saint-Honorat (Alpes-Maritimes) are among these little edens. In Europe, we find in particular Alicudi (Italy), the Kornati (Croatia), Styrsö (Sweden), Sercq (Channel Islands) or Hydra (Greece). You can only get there on foot or by bike, taking your time and in peace.